Najma Akhtar is a singer, composer, and actress who has been in heavy rotation in the World Music orbit for over 20 years. She was born and raised in England but sings in the traditional style of India, her ancestral homeland. In this presentation from 1991, she performs many songs with her band, and openly discusses her unique cultural and musical fusions.

Najma Akhtar is a singer, composer, and actress who has been in heavy rotation in the World Music orbit for over 20 years. She was born and raised in England but sings in the traditional style of India, her ancestral homeland. In this presentation from 1991, she performs many songs with her band, and openly discusses her unique cultural and musical fusions.

Meredith Monk has been on the vanguard of interdisciplinary performance
for 45 years. In this conversation from 1984, she discusses her works
of that era, reflects on her process and aspirations for her work, takes
questions, and performs excerpts from Education of the Girlchild.

Meredith Monk has been on the vanguard of interdisciplinary performance
for 45 years. In this conversation from 1984, she discusses her works
of that era, reflects on her process and aspirations for her work, takes
questions, and performs excerpts from Education of the Girlchild.

This presentation, originally recorded in 1992, is a meditation on a lifetime dedicated to music. The renowned Hindustani classical music master Ali Akbar Khan recounts the earliest days of his musical study with his father (including his 18-hour practice days); how he chose to play and master his instrument, the sarod (maybe it chose him); and how music can be a healing force. He plays the instrument and explains how it works and how itís different from the more well-known sitar. Khan also discusses the founding of his music school in San Rafael, California, a manifestation of his philosophy that knowledge of music should be shared with others.

John Cage was one of the most influential composers in modern American music. He raised fundamental questions about the nature of music, and invigorated, provoked, and perplexed audiences throughout his long career. In this lecture from 1987, excerpts of his work are played and discussed. Afterwards, Cage takes questions and shares his thoughts on subjects ranging from the origins of his impulse to make music-"Many composers hear music before they write it, but I write music in order to hear it"-to using chance to create without ego or intention. He asks why we should listen to music instead of just listening to the sounds around us, and answers: "There's no reason."

Webcasts made possible through
the generosity of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The Jim Clark
Endowment for Internet Education, the McBean Family Foundation,.and the Corporation for Educational Networks Initiatives in California (CENIC).